What was it she expected to win?
The stakes were high and the risk was great; the prize therefore must have been commensurate.

But even granting that the prize might be great, Newman could not resist a movement of admiration for his companion's intrepidity.

She was throwing away with one hand, whatever she might intend to do with the other, a very handsome sum of money.
"Are you joking," he said, "or are you serious ?" "Oh, serious!" cried Mademoiselle Noemie, but with her extraordinary smile.
"I know very little about pictures or how they are painted.

If you can't do all that, of course you can't.

Do what you can, then." "It will be very bad," said Mademoiselle Noemie.
"Oh," said Newman, laughing, "if you are determined it shall be bad, of course it will.